Milton Clifford Hadley Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

With a mixture of sadness over our tremendous loss and joy for a life well-lived, adoring family members and loved ones gathered around Milton Clifford Hadley as he peacefully passed away at home the morning of Jan. 4, 2016 after a short illness related to stage 4 gallbladder cancer. We will miss our loving husband, father, grandfather, patriarch and friend as he journeys beyond the veil, but are comforted by the knowledge that some day we will be reunited again to share memories with a gentle, loyal, hard-working servant of our Savior whose last wish was to be able to greet his loved ones on the other side. Milt, 72, was born on Feb. 18, 1943 in Murray, Utah, to Clifford and Mildred Hadley. He married Carol Jean Cox on Aug. 19, 1964, in the Salt Lake Temple, after exchanging letters with his future bride for 13 months while serving in the United States Marine Corps in Okinawa, Japan. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, children Cheryl (Scot) Green, Tami (Jay) Drew, Brian (Teri), Annette, Michael (Shelly), Naleen and 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, KaDon, and survived by siblings, Raymond (Marylee), Louise (Don) Patocka, Kevin (Lisa) and Blaine (Kim). Milt was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served in many positions, including Crescent 5th ward Sunday School president, and assistant to the high priest group leader. Milt graduated from Jordan High School before entering military service and was a proud Beetdigger, and proud Marine. He will be buried with full military honors. He was employed by the University of Utah as a painter and sign-maker for 36 years before retiring in 2005. He also spent countless hours painting at the Charleston Apartments near the U. alongside his lifelong mentor and friend, Calvin Rynearson. He learned the craft as a teenager while working on the Sandy First Ward Chapel in a voluntary role. Upon retirement, Milt and Carol served an 18-month mission at the church employment resource center in Sandy. Milt excelled at woodworking and other hobbies and loved to create craft projects his family could enjoy. He worked with Carol to make more than 100 quilts for his appreciative children, grandchildren and friends. He also enjoyed fishing, having landed his first big one, a 19-inch Brown trout, on the Provo River with a string and a safety pin before his sixth birthday. He loved teaching his sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters how to fish and spent cherished time with them at various waters throughout the state, including Fish Lake, Panguitch Lake and Navajo Lake in Southern Utah. Family reunions in Utah, Oregon and Washington were also treasured. Milt maintained throughout his life that his greatest accomplishments were his loving marriage and tight-knit family. Milt’s illness came suddenly and with little warning, but family members are grateful the final few weeks of his life came during the holiday season and were spent together, reminiscing and sharing stories of a simple, yet extraordinary, life. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Jan. 8 at 11:00 a.m. at the Crescent North Stake Center, 1050 E. 10600 South, Sandy. A viewing will be held at the same location on Thursday, Jan. 7 at 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow the funeral service at Mountain View Memorial Estates. In lieu of flowers, Milt requested that donations be made to the LDS Church General Missionary Fund. We would like to collect memories of Milt, please send any stories, memories or pictures you have of him to memoriesofmilt@gmail.com.

Milton Clifford Hadley

February 18, 1943 - January 4, 2016